High-Level Expression of Plasmodium vivax Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA-1) in Pichia pastoris: Strong Immunogenicity in Macaca mulatta Immunized with P. vivax AMA-1 and Adjuvant SBAS2

The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) family is a promising family of malaria blood-stage vaccine candidates that have induced protection in rodent and nonhuman primate models of malaria. Correct conformation of the protein appears to be essential for the induction of parasite-inhibitory responses, and these responses appear to be primarily antibody mediated. Here we describe for the first time high-level secreted expression (over 50 mg/liter) of the Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 (PV66/AMA-1) ectodomain by using the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. To prevent nonnative glycosylation, a conservatively mutagenized PV66/AMA-1 gene (PV66Δglyc) lacking N-glycosylation sites was also developed. Expression of the PV66Δglyc ectodomain yielded similar levels of a homogeneous product that was nonglycosylated and was readily purified by ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies. Recombinant PV66Δglyc(43–487) was reactive with conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies. With the SBAS2 adjuvant, Pichia-expressed PV66Δglyc(43–487) was highly immunogenic in five rhesus monkeys, inducing immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers in excess of 1:200,000. This group of monkeys had a weak trend showing lower cumulative parasite loads following a Plasmodium cynomolgi infection than in the control group.